Texas A&M-Corpus Christi tops UTSA on Friday night, 2-1

SAN ANTONIO — Yvette Franco’s two second-half goals pushed visiting Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to a 2-1 victory against UTSA on Friday night at the Park West Athletics Complex.

The Roadrunners (1-4) out-shot the Islanders, 21-4, and controlled the ball for much of the nighrt, but the home squad managed just one goal, which came off the foot of freshman Brianna Livecchi in the 76th minute.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-3) did not get a shot against the UTSA defense until the second half, but Franco’s fourth and fifth goals of the season gave the young program its first victory of the season. Audrey Baldwin chipped in with eight saves in goal.

UTSA registered 12 shots in the opening period, while keeping the Islanders from tallying just one toward goalie Bubba Makela. Anissa Munson nearly put the Roadrunners on top in the 10th minute with a shot that hit the inside of the goal post before Baldwin made a stop.

The game remained scoreless until the 66th minute, when Franco’s first winner gave the Islanders the lead. Audrey Kuhl set up the score with a pass that deflected off Franco and into the back of the net.

The Roadrunners responded 10 minutes later on Livecchi’s goal, which was her first of the season. The San Antonio native dribbled toward the end line to the right of the goal and blasted a shot over Baldwin’s head to knot the score at one.

However, Franco came up with the game winner less than two minutes later with an unassisted winner. The Corpus Christi native beat Makela one-on-one to her left.

The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defense held UTSA from there to provide the final margin.

The Roadrunners will close out their four-match homestand at 1 p.m. on Sunday when they host Samford (2-2).